In his opening monologue, Leno reflected on his 17-year run as "Tonight Show" host. "When we started this show, Jon and Kate were both eight," he joked.
Then he brought out his last guest, O'Brien, who inherets "The Tonight Show" next Monday.
"I just want to say, I couldn't be happier," Leno told O'Brien. "You were the only choice. You were the perfect choice. You have been an absolute gentlemen in private and in the press."
"Conan rocks!" an audience member shouted out. Leno replied, "I agree, Conan rocks."
Conan said he knew he had big shoes to fill, and cracked that eventually, "I want to try and fill little shoes. Some day I want to replace a local weatherman who's been on the air for about three months and who is no good and everybody hates."
After looking back at some of his most popular "Tonight Show" skits over the years, Leno said his famous predecessor Johnny Carson taught him that "you always want to have jokes. And that’s what we've been trying to do for the last 17 years, make you laugh. And it's been an honor and a privilege to do that."
At the end of the show, Leno raised a curtain to reveal the 68 children born to his staff over the 17 years. "So that's what I would like my legacy to be," he said. "When these kids grow up and they go, 'Hey, mom and dad, where do you guys meet?' They're gonna say they met on the stage of 'The Tonight Show.'"
Leno returns to TV on a new primetime show on NBC this fall.
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Comments (7)
I don't think I missed a show all the time Johnny Carson was the host.
I love both Johnny & Jay and think they both did a great job.
I tried to watch the first 2 shows of the Tonight Show with an open mind, but am very discouraged.
I am turning off the tonight show as long as Conan is the host and I beleive it is the death of the tonight show.
In my opinion the Tonight Show Has passed away and hope that NBC Executives get the message and do something abou.
BML